Glossary and Acronyms
ACS
American Cancer Society.
AIBS
American Institute of Biological Sciences.
Amplification
a process for producing an increase in pertinent genetic material.
ASBREM
Armed Services Biomedical Research Evaluation and Management Committee.
ASCN
American Society for Clinical Nutrition.
ASCO
American Society of Clinical Oncology.
ASNS
American Society for Nutritional Sciences.
Ataxia telangiectasia
autosomal recessive disorder of the nervous system; carriers of the gene are more sensitive to radiation and have a higher risk of cancer.
Atypical hyperplasia
proliferation of cells showing nuclear atypicality, especially as scattered cells.
BAA
Broad Agency Announcement.
BCL1
cell cycle gene overexpressed in parathyroid adenomas and breast cancers; rearranged in chronic lymphocytic leukemia; also known as PRAD1 and Cyclin D1.
BCRP
Breast Cancer Research Program.
BRCA1 and BRCA2
tumor-suppressor genes thought to be linked to genetic breast and ovarian cancer.
Carcinoma in situ
a lesion observed most commonly in stratified squamous epithelium and characterized by cytological changes of the types associated with invasive carcinoma, but with the pathologic process limited to the lining epithelium and without histologic evidence of extension to adjacent structures.
CDA
Career Development Award.
CRISP
Computer Retrieval of Information on Scientific Projects.
CT scan
computed tomography scan. Works by using radiation to visually cut parts of the body in cross-sectional slices.
DHHS
Department of Health and Human Services.
Digital mammography
technique of using a dedicated electronic detector system to computerize and display the x-ray information from conventional mammography.
DOD
Department of Defense.
DOE
Department of Energy.
DROLS
Defense Research On-Line System.
DTIC
Defense Technical Information Center.
Ductal carcinoma in situ
ductal cancer cells that have not grown outside of their site of origin, sometimes referred to as precancer.
DVA
Department of Veteran Affairs.
DWHRP
Defense Women's Health Research Program.
ERBB2
V-erb avian erythroblastic leukemia viral oncogene homolog 2; also known as NEU and HER2.
FedRIP
Federal Research in Progress.
FHIT
Fragile histidine triad gene. A tumor suppressor gene mutated in lung, head and neck, intestinal, and breast cancers.
Gene
a functional unit of heredity which occupies a specific place or locus on a chromosome.
HBCU/MIs
Historically black colleges and universities and other minority institutions.
HER2
V-erb avian erythroblastic leukemia viral oncogene homolog 2; also known as ERBB2 and NEU.
HRT
hormone replacement therapy.
HUSB
transgenic mouse husbandry.
Hyperplasia
an increase in the number of cells in a tissue or organ, excluding tumor formation, whereby the bulk of the part or organ may be increased.
IDEA
Innovative Developmental and Exploratory Awards.
INFO
information systems.
Invasive cancer
cancers capable of growing beyond their site of origin and invading neighboring tissue.
IOM
Institute of Medicine of the National Academy of Sciences.
IP
Integration Panel.
Lactiferous gland
milk-producing glands.
Li-Fraumeni syndrome
a dominant cancer syndrome in which gene carriers have a high risk of childhood sarcomas, early onset breast cancer, brain tumors, leukemia, and adrenocortical carcinoma.
Lobular carcinoma in situ
abnormal cells within the lobule which do not form lumps; can serve as a marker of future cancer risk.
Lymphedema
swelling as a result of obstruction of lymphatic vessels or lymph nodes and the accumulation of large amounts of lymph in the affected region.
Malignant
in reference to a neoplasm, having the property of locally invasive and destructive growth and metastasis; cancerous.
Mammography
roentgenographic examination of the breast by means of x-rays, ultrasound, nuclear magnetic resonance, and so on.
Metastasis
spread of cancer to another organ, usually through the bloodstream.
Micrometastases
microscopic and as yet undetectable spread of tumor cells to other organs.
Monoclonal antibody
an antibody produced by a clone or genetically homogenous population of hybrid cells; hybrid cells are cloned to establish cell lines producing a specific antibody
MRI
magnetic resonance imaging.
MYC
protooncogene homologous to myelocytomatosis virus.
NAPBC
National Action Plan on Breast Cancer.
NBCC
National Breast Cancer Coalition.
NCI
National Cancer Institute.
Neoplasm
new growth; tumor.
NEU
V-erb avian erythroblastic leukemia viral oncogene homolog 2; also known as ERBB2 and HER2.
NIA
New Investigator Award.
NIH
National Institutes of Health.
Noninvasive cancer
malignant tumors that do not spread throughout the body tissues
NSF
National Science Foundation.
Nulliparous
never having borne children.
OIA
Other Investigator-Initiated Award.
Oncogenes
tumor genes present in the body that can be activated by carcinogens and cause cells to grow uncontrollably.
PET
positron emission tomography.
p53
tumor suppressor gene.
Phytoestrogen
estrogen compounds in plants.
PMT
Program Management Team.
POST
postdoctoral fellowships.
PRAD1
cell cycle gene overexpressed in parathyroid adenomas and breast cancers, rearranged in chronic lymphocytic leukemia; also known as BCL1 and Cyclin D1.
PREF
predoctoral fellowships.
PTP
predoctoral training programs.
Radionucleotide imaging
injection of radioactive agents which accumulate in cancer cells and can be detected.
Radiotherapy
medical specialty concerned with the use of electromagnetic or particulate radiations in the treatment of disease.
RaDiUS
Research and Development in the U.S. Database.
REG
enhancement of existing cancer registries or new registries of high-risk individuals.
Retinoids
class of keratolytic drugs derived from retinoic acid.
RTA
Research Technical Assistant.
RTP
Research with Translational Potential.
SAIC
Science Applications International Corporation.
SBA
Small Business Administration.
SBIR
Small Business in Research Program.
SDBs
Small Disadvantaged Businesses.
SHAR
other innovative shared resources.
Somatic mutation
uninherited mutation.
Systemic therapy
treatment involving the whole body, usually using drugs.
Transformation
morphological and physiological changes resulting from infection of the cell by an oncogenic virus, and the subsequent cell-virus coexistence.
TSG101
tumor-suppressor gene mutated in breast cancers.
UIS
United Information Systems, Inc.
USAMRAA
U.S. Army Medical Research Acquisition Activity.
USAMRMC
U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command.
USDA
U.S. Department of Agriculture.
Virtual reality imaging
interactive computer graphic simulations that can be used to provide a three-dimensional visualization of an organ or tissue.